Remediation of Saline Soils using Apocynum Lancifolium and Chenopodium Album

摘要

Large expansion of irrigated area in the northern part of Uzbekistan has caused a substantial damage on land and water resources in that region. A shallow groundwater table associated with poor irrigation management and inappropriate drainage systems have resulted in secondary soil salinization with significant decrease of cotton and wheat productions. Rehabilitation of these areas by means of installation of appropriate drainage infrastructures requires major financial investments. The potential capacity of Chenopodium album and Apocynum lancifolium, native naturally grown wild species, have been evaluated under this study to its removal of ions from the salt-affected soils of Khorezm Region, northwest of Uzbekistan. Salt content, soil physical and chemical properties were determined to characterize the soil in the study area. Salt accumulation in the plants, salt removal capacity and potential plant yield were determined. This preliminary study has clearly demonstrated that Chenopodium album produced the highest dry biomass 3.25 tons ha-1 and accumulated 569.6 kg ha-1 dry matter. Hence, it can be used to rehabilitate and to bring salt-affected soils back into the former production because it is low cost and could be adopted by resource poor farmers. Although, Apocynum lancifolium was developed in high saline soils, but had removed very low amount of salts and thus, can be considered as a salt-tolerant and not as salt-removing species.